8 governors but no Richardson

SPRINGFIELD — Eight governors — including Democrat Rod Blagojevich of Illinois — are urging Congress to approve legislation that would help states clean up abandoned mines.

In a letter to Congress, the governors also are calling for lawmakers to approve a provision that would extend health care benefits to retired miners.

Blagojevich’s involvement in the push comes just a day after he signed a new state law aimed at improving safety within Illinois mines. That legislation was spurred by the death of 12 miners in a West Virginia mine collapse in January.

The move also comes one day before finalists will be named in a nationwide battle to land the experimental FutureGen low-emission power plant and its hundreds of jobs. Illinois has four sites in contention for the project, which could be a significant user of coal.

The governor, in a statement, said Congress should reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Land program because it will help Illinois reclaim land damaged by mining.

“This legislation addresses concerns that many states are facing, including Illinois — trying to protect the health and safety of the people of Illinois, trying to protect the environment and trying to expand the coal industry,” the governor wrote.

Governors from Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia also signed the letter.